Tappoon



Feb. 2, 1932. E. .1. BEATY ET AL 1,843,797

TAPPOON Filed Aug. 14. 1929 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE EVAN J. BEATY AND JOHN C. W. BEATY, F WESLAGO, TEXAS TAPPOON Application filed August 14, 1929. Serial No. 385,849.

rigation ditches, that comprises a blade having a rounded outer edge and a straight edge formed with a laterally extending head that has one of its ends merging into a handle, and further wherein the head has pivotally secured thereto a hand grip, the rounded edge of the blade designed, when pressure is exerted upon the head to be forced into the ground transversely of the irrigating ditch, the handle end of the head providing a means whereby the same may be withdrawn from the ground when it is desired 5 that the water pass through the ditch and the hand grip providing a means whereby the tappoon may be readily conveyed.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists inthe improvement hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of our improve- -ment in operative position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improve- *stantially semi-clrcular form, head members disposed against the opposite sides of the blade at the upper edge thereof and extend- 95 ment per se. I

Figure 3 is a top plan view. Figure 4 is an end view thereof. Figure 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale and approximately on the line 55 of to Figure 2.

As disclosed by the drawings we employ a flat metal blade 1 whose outer edge is rounded, as at 2. To the straight upper edge of the blade, on the opposite sides thereof we ar- 1'5 range plates 3. These plates are secured to the blade by means 4, preferably in the nature of bolts engaged by nuts. The plates 3'provide thehead for the blade, and as disclosed by the drawings the said plates project a as suitable distance beyond one edge of the blade and this projecting portion of the head is rounded cross sectionally to form the same with a handle 5. I

Between the plates 3 that constitute the 4.3 head, and at the center of the blade 1 there is fixed by one of the securing devices 4: the

contacting sides or faces of a metal strip 6.

The outer end of this strip is rounded-upon itself, as at 7 to provide a barrel fora hand grip 8. The grip 8 is swingable to either side of the head and the said grip provides a means whereby the device may be readily conveyed when not in use.

In operation the tappoon is arranged transversely in an irrigating ditch, as disas closed in Figure 1 of the drawings and pressure is exerted against the head thereof to force, the rounded edge of the blade 1 into the ground surface. The edge of the blade enters the ground surface a sufficient distance to prevent the passageof water through the ditch and the leakage of such water through the depression in theearth formed by the blade.

Thehan'dle 5 is gripped when the blade is to be canted or swung upwardly in its removal from theditch. With our improvement it will be noted that we do not employ any canvas or like materials which are common in such devices and the simplicity of our construction'will, it is thought, be understood so that further description will not be required.

Having described the invention, we claim A tappoon comprising a fiat blade of subing completely across the blade, said members extending beyond one upper corner of the blade to provide a handle, a tubular strip having end portions applied to the opposite sides of the blade and interposed between thesides of the blade and the head members, a handle rotatably fitting in said strip and securing devices passing through the head members, the blade and the strip and serving to clamp the blade and the strip between said head members.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures. 

